Jerusalem patriarchs and church leaders condemn settler attacks in Taybeh, call for accountability

The patriarchs and heads of churches in Jerusalem condemned an attack by “masked settlers” against Palestinian olive farmers and visiting European diplomats and officials in Taybeh, a town east of Ramallah in the central West Bank. The attack happened during an olive harvest event coordinated with the town’s Latin Patriarchate parish.

Calling the violence “not an isolated incident,” leaders have urged authorities to hold those responsible accountable and protect residents.

The attack followed another violent incident in the Palestinian village of Abu Falah, north of Ramallah, when a Washington Post photojournalist was attacked and seriously injured by Israeli settlers while she and other journalists were covering the olive harvest there.

European diplomats and officials join residents harvesting olives in Taybeh, east of Ramallah, during a solidarity visit. | Credit: Sanad Sahelia

In a statement following the Oct. 17 attack, the church leaders said Palestinian villages across the West Bank were experiencing widespread settler violence during the olive harvest, when families return to their land to gather their crops and renew ties stretching back generations.

“This…